Player Page

Bjoern Werner | Defensive End

Latest News

Recent News

Colts selected Florida State DE Bjoern Werner with the No. 24 overall pick.

Werner (6-3, 266) earned 2012 ACC Defensive Player of the Year by leading FSU in tackles for loss (18) and sacks (13), also batting down eight passes. Werner is not the explosive edge rusher his stats suggest, and ran 4.83 at the Combine with a 9-foot-3 broad jump. Hyped as a top-five pick early in the draft process, Werner's tape and motor were inconsistent upon further review. He's unlikely to be a double-digit sack threat in the pros. We don't particularly like the fit in the 3-4 for Werner, but he did go through outside 'backer drills at the Combine and Pro Day. He'll rush the passer opposite Robert Mathis. Thu, Apr 25, 2013 10:53:00 PM

Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole hears the Falcons would possibly like to trade up, most likely for a pass rusher.

Cole throws out FSU defensive end Bjoern Werner's name in the 20-23 range. We think there's also a chance the club trades up for a corner, like Dee Milliner or Xavier Rhodes, or an interior pass rusher like Sheldon Richardson. The Falcons and 49ers appear to be the two teams poised to potentially make a big move. Thu, Apr 25, 2013 10:07:00 AM

The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein notes that all of FSU DE Bjoern Werner's 13 sacks took place without the help of a blitz.

Werner "beat his man on those 13 sacks," Zierlein writes while listing the edge rusher as the second best defensive end. "I thought Bjoern Werner could transition to 3-4 OLB, and maybe he can, but to my eyes he looks best suited to the 4-3. Werner looked a little more explosive off the edge last year, but I still think he has the athleticism to be a legitimate enough edge rusher that he will open up some inside moves by tackles over-setting to the outside." Fri, Mar 29, 2013 02:16:00 PM

"It would not surprise me all that much to see Werner slide a lot further than most people expect come draft day," Burke writes, after ranking the pass rusher at No. 12 overall. "He produced big numbers at Florida State and could replicate that performance in the right situation." Fri, Mar 22, 2013 01:24:00 PM

Player News

Yahoo! Sports' Jason Cole hears the Falcons would possibly like to trade up, most likely for a pass rusher.

Cole throws out FSU defensive end Bjoern Werner's name in the 20-23 range. We think there's also a chance the club trades up for a corner, like Dee Milliner or Xavier Rhodes, or an interior pass rusher like Sheldon Richardson. The Falcons and 49ers appear to be the two teams poised to potentially make a big move.

The Sideline View's Lance Zierlein notes that all of FSU DE Bjoern Werner's 13 sacks took place without the help of a blitz.

Werner "beat his man on those 13 sacks," Zierlein writes while listing the edge rusher as the second best defensive end. "I thought Bjoern Werner could transition to 3-4 OLB, and maybe he can, but to my eyes he looks best suited to the 4-3. Werner looked a little more explosive off the edge last year, but I still think he has the athleticism to be a legitimate enough edge rusher that he will open up some inside moves by tackles over-setting to the outside."

"It would not surprise me all that much to see Werner slide a lot further than most people expect come draft day," Burke writes, after ranking the pass rusher at No. 12 overall. "He produced big numbers at Florida State and could replicate that performance in the right situation."

NFL Films' Greg Cosell believes FSU DE Bjoern Werner has the skill set to be a good player.

Werner has "quick, natural athleticism," Cosell tweeted. "If he wins initially he can be dominant. If not he's not a finisher." Werner's snap anticipation is quite good and he utilizes hands to sustain that separation, but there are times his motor dips when rushing off the back side.

Mayhew also commented on Brigham Young defensive end Ezekiel Ansah and Oregon linebacker Dion Jordan. "He's exciting," Mayhew said of Ansah. "Bjoern Werner is a very talented guy who we think a lot of. (Dion) Jordan at Oregon. There are a bunch of good pass rushers out there." The Lions could be without top defensive end Cliff Avril going into next season. They select No. 5 overall.

Florida State DE Bjoern Werner "comes off the ball hard but (is) not special," according to one unnamed NFL Scout.

He's not a dynamic pass rusher but he seems to get sacks," the scout said. A different evaluator told Packers beat writer Bob McGinn, "He's good, but I don't see the special in him. Kind of a try-hard, good football player but nothing special."

Draft guru Tony Pauline has been told FSU DE Bjoern Werner has not been outstanding in training and is not expected to test great at the Combine.

Werner doesn't have "great speed in pursuit and is more of a short (10-yard) burst defender," Pauline writes. He notes that he doesn't view him as a 3-4 outside linebacker. Werner is a highly rated player by most but scheme fit could limit interest in him inside the top 10.

NFL Draft legend Gil Brandt ranks FSU DE Bjoern Werner as the second overall player in the 2013 class.

Werner "is a very, very good pass rusher," writes Brandt. "He's one of these guys who is highly motivated, someone who never takes a play off; in that way, he reminds me of Jared Allen." We are among the group that considers Werner a fringe top 10 talent, and a hit or miss motor on opposite side runs plays into that. His snap timing and burst is very good, though.

On a conference call, the NFL Network's Mike Mayock said he doesn't consider pass rushers Bjoern Werner and Damontre Moore as top-10 prospects.

Both junior defensive ends have generated a lot of attention during the process but have flaws in their games. For Werner, his lack of motor to chase down plays from the back side shows, and Moore lacks a reliable counter move. The latter will likely appeal to 3-4 teams more than Werner.

The NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah likes, but doesn't love, Florida State DE Bjoern Werner and Texas A&M DE Damontre Moore.

"I won't be surprised if neither one goes in the top 10," Jeremiah tweeted. Both players are frequently mocked in the first 10 picks, but each has questions surrounding their evaluation. For Werner, it is his lack of motor when the play goes the opposite side of the field, and Moore needs to use his hands more often as well as work back inside.

Broaddus concedes that Werner's effort against Miami wasn't good, "but the majority of the time, he is playing with all he has." The former NFL personnel man says Werner reminds him a lot of Chris Long. We aren't as thrilled about the Seminole's motor, but love his burst off the line and hand use to keep separation.

After studying a game tape of Florida State DE Bjoern Werner, NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah compares the former Seminole to Rams star Chris Long.

Like Long, Werner is a left end in a 4-3 defense. Also like Long, Werner isn't necessarily scheme versatile and projects best in the 4-3. Rotoworld's Josh Norris has noticed on tape that Werner's motor can run hot and cold, but he's certainly a premier pass rusher in the 2013 draft class and projects as a potential top-five pick. He's got a really impressive get-off.

This is no surprise as Werner is one of the top pass rushers in a strong class. He lacks a great motor to chase down plays from the back side, but Werner has a nice jump off the line and uses his hands to create separation. A top-20 selection is likely.

Former NFL Scout Russ Lande ranks Florida State junior DE Bjoern Werner as the 2013 Draft's top prospect.

Werner has not officially declared for the Draft and likely won't do so until after the Seminoles bowl game, but he is certainly one of the top pass rushers in this class. For his size and strength, Werner consistently gets a great jump off the snap and already uses his hands effectively to shed.